Passing Ships

On December 6, 1946, just hours before the Winecoff fire, this photo was taken in Georgia's state capitol building as the Youth Assembly Conference was gaveled to order.

The bobby-soxed girl in the center is Sue Broome, 16, a Youth Assembly member from Bainbridge, Georgia. Hours later she and 31 other Youth Assembly participants perished in the Winecoff fire, America's deadliest hotel fire.

The man on the left is Melvin E. Thompson, the Lt. Governor-elect of Georgia. He addressed the Youth Assembly delegates that night. Fifteen days later, upon the death of Georgia's Governor-elect Eugene Talmadge, Thompson was thrust into the state's biggest political controversy ever: Georgia's Three-Governors Controversy, wherein three men claimed to be the rightful governor of Georgia. Thompson eventually prevailed.

If you can help identify the other Youth Assembly members in the photo please contact Winecoff Fire co-author Allen B. Goodwin: allenbgoodwin@yahoo.com

Meet Ace Research Assistant Chet Wallace

Chet Wallace

The Winecoff Fire co-authors, Sam Heys and Allen B. Goodwin are pleased to recognize the good work of Chet Wallace. Said Sam Heys, "Two years ago Chet had never heard of the Winecoff Hotel fire. Then he read our book. He contacted Allen and me and has pumped new energy into our study of the fire."

"Sam and Allen's book had a big effect on me," said Wallace. "It made me curious about the fire's 119 victims. Who were they? What kind of lives had they led?"

"Chet's located dozens of new photos for the Remembrance Page. He's also compiled a long overdue index for our book," said Allen Goodwin, "he's been a huge help."

Goodwin added, "he's brought us so much new material a second book may soon be in the works."